Sampling device



p 1942- L. L. THOMPSON 2,295,437

smrmne DEVICE Filed Oct. 21, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Figzl Lonnie L.Thompson I INVENTOK ATTORNEY.

. p 4 L. L. THOMPSON Q 2,295,437

SAMPLING DEVICE Filed Oct. 21,1938 5 Shgets-Sheet 2 Fig.3 3 -3 Fi .5 Fi .6

. v 16 7 32 1s 42 g 4! 45 47 :1 3 2 43 32' i a 1i. .g l0 l0 'I l3 s i I 3! 4i I r} 37 L--. 1 3 a a5 Figfil Lonnie Thbmpson INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY l 3, 1942- L. L. THOMPSON 2,295,437

SAMPLING DEVICE Filed Oct. 21, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig.8

4 5 52 Figs IN VENTOR.

Lonnie L/Dwmpson ATTORNEY.

Se t. 8, 1942.- L. L jTHOMPSON 6 2,295,437 I SAMPLING DEVICE Filed Oct. 21, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 35' g rg/?' lonnieLThompson INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Sept. 8,- 1-942. L. L. THOMPSON v 2,295,437

SAMPLING DEVICE Filed Oct. zlj-lsss s SheetseSheet.5

3a Fig: 12

Lonnie L Thompson PatentedSept. a, 1942 UNITED; STATES .QPATENT OF ICE SAMPLING DEVICE Lonnie L. Thompson, Iowa Park, Tex, assignor to Thompson Tool Com .Tex., a corporation of Texas,

Application October 21, 1938, Serial- No. 23 ,307 v (oi. is-.21)

. 4 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in sampling devices of the type used primarily in connection with rotary welljdrilling rigs which Fig. 9 is a side elevation thereof with parts broken away;

circulate mud through a rotary bit in the well quently enough to show all the formations 'encountered during the drilling operation.

Fig. 1015 a sideelevation of a further modified form of {modification of sampling device. with parts broken away and in section;

Fig. 11 is a top plan view thereof, with parts broken away and parts shown in section;

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the device opposite from 10, wit parts broken away and parts showninsection;

Fig. 13 is .a perspective view of the idler sprocket support showing the tightening arrangement therefor; and

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a conveyor bucket and chain. with part broken away and in section.

' Fig. 7 of. the drawings shows generally a rotary The primary object of this invention is to provide for automatically obtaining samples of the formation as the well is drilled and depositing these samples in a receptacle for further inspectionand analysis. By the use of .this invention; the. human element is eliminated in the securing of these samples, as they ar automatically deposited in a container from which they may be removed and inspected later at will.

Another object is to provide forv washing the cuttings free of mud when desired and during the collecting thereof.

Still another object of the invention is to operate a machine for taking samples by the drilling fluid passing therethrough.

While the drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, ttogether with modiflcations thereof, it is to be understood that the design may be varied and changes made in the minor details of construction to meet specific needs and requirements, within the scope of the invention as claimed, without departing from the spirit thereof.

. In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the preferred form of the invention with parts broken away and parts shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, with parts broken away and parts shown in section;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation, partly in section, of the preferred embodiment of the invention;

' Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the sample washing tumbler;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a molded core of a formation sample;

' Fig. 6 is a vertical section through a bucket for catching sample formations Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a rotary rig having a shale separator and formation sampling device associated therewith;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a modified form of the invention installed on a shale. separator, with parts broken away;

out through a pipe 4 to the rig 1, having a rotary table 2 from which is suspended a rotary drill unit having provision for circulating fluid or mud -therethrough, thence i P us lly passing through a shale separator 5 for removing foreign substances therefrom.

Instead of catching some of this recirculated fluid from the well in a bucket, to obtain samples of theformation, as heretofore, I have provided a sampling device 6 associated with th 'shale separator 5 or in the pipe lto obtain automatically samples of'the earth formation in the fluid flowing from the well through the pipe 4.

The construction of the preferred embodiment -.of the sampling device 6 is shown more particularly in Figs. 1 to 3, in which the numeral 1 designates a housing of the shale separator which encases a paddle wheel 8, which paddle wheel 8 serves as a motivating element to drive the shale separator and the mechanism of the sampling device. The drilling fluid enters housing I from the pipe 4 by means of inlet pipe 9 and passes therethrough in the direction indicated by the arrows, thence directly into the cylinder III of the shale separator. This in turn rotates the paddle wheel or impeller 8 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2. The pipe 9 and cylinder II) are in axial aligmnent and are connected with respective opposite sides of the housing 1. The paddle wheel 8 is secured to a shaft ll journaled in opposite sides of the housing I, with opposite ends projecting outwardly from said housing, one end having driving connection with the cylinder l0 throughdriving means H, while the other end drives sampling mechanism, as hereinafter described.

Spaced at one side from the housing I isa casing 12 having an inlet tube l3 extending from one side of the casing l2 to the inlet pipe 9 with e which it communicates and which directs fluid from the inlet pipe 9 into .the-casing-IZ, and said casing I2 has an outlet tube It and which the fluid to pass outward from the casthe invention shown end of the outlet tube the inner end of the fluid to rise in the permits the heavy particles indicative of the earth formation to settle to the bottom of the casing l2.

The shaft extends into the casing I2 and carries thereon a sprocket I! over which a sprocket chain i6 extends, passing also over idle sprockets i1 and I8, operating in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2. The chain I6 carries a cup IS, in position to dip into the bottom of the casing l2 in passing around the sprocket l8 and scoop up the particles of earth formation that have settled to the bottom of said casing from the fluid flowing therethrough. The cup I! then passes around the sprocket H to dump the scooped material through an opening 20 in the bottom portion of the casing i2. Only one cup I9 is shown, but additional cups may be used if desired, although it is preferred that they should be so spaced and operated at such slow speed as to permit the formation particles to settle in the casing l2 between successive dips of the cup or cups.

Each of the sprockets l1 and It may be journaled in the free end of a U-shaped frame 2|, as shown in Figs. 10 and 13, which frame is pivotally supported at 22 on the outer wall 23 of the casing I2, for adjustment of the sprockets and regulation of the travel of the chain l6 and of the tightness thereof. To permit such adjustment and to hold each frame 2| in a set position, said frame has an arcuate slot 24 therein receiving a fastening bolt 25 extending through v the wall 23' of the casing l2.

The cup 19 is constructed generally in the shape of a bucket for dipping up a sample of the material in the bottom of the casing l2, and as shown in Fig. 14, the cup I! preferably is provided with one or more holes 26 in the bottom thereof to permit the escape of the liquid from the scooped up material during the upward travel of the chain It to the point of discharge. These holes 26 are preferably covered with screens when of appreciable size, to prevent the escape of the cuttings that have been obtained from the well.

As shown in Fig. 10, a wedge-shaped deflector 21 is pivotally supported at 24 on the casing l2, at a point immediately beneath: the opening 20 in the casing in position for discharge of the material from the cup l9 through said opening directly onto the deflector 21. The deiiector is arranged with its apex turned upwardly so .as to divert the material to one side or the other thereof. To regulate .the position of the deflector 21, it is provided with an arm 29 cooperating with a scale 30 provided on the front wall 23 of the casing l2.

At one side of the deflector 21 is a receptacle 3|, shown in detail in Fig. 6, provided with a ball 32 adapted to removably engage a hook 23 on the casing |2 for supporting the receptacle 2| in proper position to receive the cuttings and particles discharged by the cup I! when the defiector 21 is turned to a position where it will directsaid material into the receptacle ll. The deflector 21 may be adjusted so as to direct any desired proportion-of the material into the receptacle 3| as may be desired to prevent the filling of the receptacle too quickly, and the remainder of the material deflected to the opposite side of the deflector 21 may be discharged into the usual sacks or otherwise disposed of.

The receptacle 2| (Fig. 6) has a series of perforations 34 arranged vertically thereof and covered by a wire screen 45 which allows further draining off of the liquid and circulation of the air therethrough to facilitate drying of the sample into molded and compact form substantially as shown at S in Fig. 5. When the receptacle 2| has been fllled to the desired height it may be removed from the sampling device and replaced by an empty receptacle and the filled one set aside for drying and molding of the sample therein. After the sample has dried sumciently, it may be readily removed from the receptacle by sliding it out, and to facilitate this removal, the receptacle 3| is provided with a lifting wire 26 extending upwardly approximately at the axis thereof, which wire 38 carries a washer 31 at the lower end thereof normally resting at the bot tom of the receptacle and tending to hold the wire in its central position in the receptacle. This wire 36 serves also as a stiffening element in the molded samples to prevent accidental breaking thereof since it becomes embedded in the sample as the latter sets.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the bucket I9 discharges the scooped up material into a chute 4| welded to a portion of the casing l2 and extending transversely thereof within an enlargement 43 thereof. The chute 4| projects downwardly in an inclined direction through the opening 20 and has. a notch or hook 44 at the lower end thereof that receives the bail of the receptacle 3|, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so as to suspend said receptacle from the chute 4|.

The shaft 42. carries a screen tumbler 45 rotatably mounted within the enlargement 43 of the casing and open at opposite ends, being supported on the shaft by spiders arranged at suitable intervals therein and attached to the screen of the tumbler. The screen tumbler 45 has a spiral conveyor 46 extending lengthwise therein adjacent the inner periphery of the screen for feeding material lengthwise of the tumbler from the intake to the discharge ends thereof. This spiral conveyor 46 is supported also at intervals on the shaft 42 by spiders or other means. A chute 41 welded to a portion of the casing H, has one end arranged in position to receive material from the bucket l9 at the point of discharge thereof and the opposite end of said chute is directed into the tumbler 45, so that part of the material scooped up by the bucket is directed into the tumbler 45 and the remainder is directed by the chute 4| into the receptacle 3|.

The tumbler 45 is rotated by the shaft 42, which is driven by belt or other gearing 48 from the shaft Thus when material is directed into the tumbler 45 by the chute 41, it is fed gradually through the tumbler and discharged at the opposite end thereof into a receptacle 3|, shown in Figs. 1 and 3, which is similar in construction to the receptacle 3|, shown in detail in Fig. 6, and which has been described above.

Extending longitudinally 'of the casing portion 42 over the tumbler 45 is a pipe 49 having lateral perforations therein in position to direct.

spray jets of water onto the tumbler 45, thereby automatically washing the mud from the material passing therethrough. This spray is con-' trolled by a valve 50, as shown in Fig. 1, so as to I discontinue the washing operation whenever desired. One end of the spray pipe 49 is directed at over the cup 19 when the latter is in the posi-' tion shown in Fig. 2, so as to wash the cup clean each time that it reaches this position and causing the sample to drop readily therefrom into the respective chutes.

In this way, it is possible to obtain two types of samples simultaneously, one including the mud from the well with the formation particles being discharged directly into the receptacle 3!, while the other sample is washed free of mud by the spray pipe 49 that leaves only the earth formation without mud or dirt, and this is collected in the receptacle 3|. The mud washed from the sample will flow downward through the casing l2, being discharged through the outlet pipe I4. I

A further modification of the invention is shown in Figs. 8 and 9, in which the conveyor chain and-cup are not used, but this employs a tumbler 52, which is joumaled on a shaft 53 mounted in a trough 54 beside the shale separator and driven therefrom by a belt 55. The trough 54 has an inclined bottom and the tumbler 52 has a spiral screw conveyor 56 therein for directing the sample forwardly through the tumbler in the manner described above in connection with Figs. 1 to 3, the sample being discharged from a lip 57 into a receptacle 3! removably supported at the discharge end of the trough 5d. Tumbler 52 has a spray pipe 58 extending thereover to wash the mud from the sample, as described above, but if it is desired to obtain a sample with the mud, this may be done by stopping the washing action and permitting the screw conveyor 56 to direct the entire material into the receptacle. The mud from the well enters the open end of the tumbler 52, di-

' rectly from the inlet pipe l3, while the mud from the trough 54! is discharged through the pipe it into the shale separator, directly into the bottom trough thereof.

It will be apparent that the forms of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 8 and 9 are utilized in association with a shale operator either of the type illustrated or of any suitable type, while the form of the invention shown in Figs. 10 to 12 operates independently of a shale separator directly in the discharge pipe i from the well.

A cover 38 is provided for the housing 1 and a similar cover 39 is provided for the casing l2,

these covers being hinged or otherwise removably secured thereto to facilitate gaining access to the interiors thereof. These covers 38 and 39 serve the additional useful purpose of aiding in determining the presence of gas because if the formation drilled contains gas the housing and casing serve as traps for the same, and this may be detected merely upon raising the covers and making the usual tests.

The operation of the sampling device will be obvious from the foregoing description, but it may be pointed out that an important characteristic of this invention is the operation of the sampling. device automatically by the mud and fluid being pumped out of the well in the course of the drilling operation and utilizing'the force of this fluid for the accumulation of a sample of the formation encountered in the drilling. The accumulation of this sample automatically in the manner described enables the operator to obtain an accurate sample truly representative of the formation in thewell. Any desired proportion ofthe fluid passing through the pipe 4 may be diverted into the casing H to obtain a sample therefrom, a butterfly valve 40' being provided in the tube l3, as shown in Figs. 2 and 10, to control the flow therethrough into the casing l2.

I claim:

1. The combination of well drilling apparatus having a discharge pipe for drilling fluid, and a sampling device operatively connected with said discharge pipe comprising means for diverting a portion of the fluid from the discharge pipe, a sample receptacle, means for separating solid particles of earth formation fromsaid diverted fluid and directing the separated solids into said receptacle, and fluid driven means in the path of flow from said pipe for operating said separating means.

2. A sampling device comprising a casing having means for directing fluid thereinto for settling solid particles from said fluid, a receptacle associated with the casing, an endless device having a bucket carried-thereby for dipping settled particles in the casingand directing the sameinto the receptacle, a rotatable tumbling device associated with the casing, means for directing particles from said bucket; into said tumbling device, washing means for said tumbling device, and a second receptacle in position to receive particles from the tumbling device.

3. In apparatus for obtaining samples of cuttings in mud laden fluids used in well drilling, the combination with well drilling apparatus having a well casing and a fluid discharge pipe connected therewith for directing mud-laden fluids from the well, of a sampling device comprising a rotary screen having open opposite ends, a conduit having one end connected with said discharge pipe and having the other end thereof arranged to direct a proportionate share of the drilling fluid from the discharge pipe into one end of said screen, a receptacle arranged at the opposite end of the rotary screen in position to receive screenedsolids therefrom, said receptacle being constructed to retain the solids therein and to screen liquid therefrom, and fluid driven means in the path of flow from the fluid discharge pipe for operating said screen.

4. In apparatus for obtaining samples of cuttings inmud laden fluids used in well drilling, the

. combination with well drilling apparatus having a well casing and a fluid discharge pipe connect= ed therewith for directing mud-laden fluids from the Well, of a sampling device comprising 8. cas ing, a rotary screen mounted in the casing, means for directing a proportionate share of the drilling fluid from the pipe to the casing, means for directing said fluid into one end of the screen for screening solids from the fluid, a container connected, with the screen casing at the opposite end of the screen to receive the solids therefrom,

- said container being constructed to retain the solids therein and'to screen liquid therefrom, and

fluid driven means in the path of flow from the fluid discharge pipe for operating said screen.

LONN'I-E L. THOMPSON. 

